The Right House

Harry Hunt Architects[1] is a Stowe Vermont-based architectural firm that designs modern low carbon homes that stay true to the spirit of Vermont. Projects may include renovations or new construction, commercial or residential, but they all have one thing in common – they use less energy for heating and cooling; drastically reducing carbon emissions.

Harry Hunt, a native Vermonter, believes that it’s time we start taking climate change seriously, and that a big part of that is thinking hard about the buildings we use and the places we live.

The U.S. is the world’s second largest producer of carbon emissions,” he says, “and over 50% of all those emissions can be traced to our buildings. Fortunately, this is a problem we can do something about. Low carbon homes can empower each and every one of us to make a meaningful difference.

Hunt has made this concept a reality in his “The Right House” project. From space planning to building orientation, materials selection, and detailing, the design of The Right House seeks solutions that strike a delicate balance between engineering and art. The house features include: a near Passive House level heating demand (13.7 KBtu/sf/year), extensive use of local woods as interior and exterior finish materials, low water usage, low-maintenance exterior detailing and finishes, and a robust day-lighting strategy. The result is a design that supports low carbon living while providing a deep connection to the surrounding landscape. In 2015, the projects’ creativity and ingenuity earned The Right House an AIAVT Design Excellence Award.